The Christian Metal Realm

Subject: I've made up my mind... Mon Apr 28, 2008 8:40 pm

I'm going for 500 on the bench by summer's end. 455 is a personal best, and I would say I am probably closer to 435 now (though I could be shorting myself). That being said, my strength retention is jumping right now, meaning I am able to handle heavier weights through more and more reps. At the end of my workout today, I had 400 for 5 reps AFTER doing 43 total reps on the previous 4 sets (15, 10, 10, 8 ) of progressively heavier weight.

Don't know if I will make it, but I am going to give it a shot.

Arttie
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Constitutional separation of church and state is a lie; it is a figment of the secular-progressive imagination.

Age : 34 Joined : 06 Mar 2007 Posts : 2764

Yes! I'm glad to hear this. Keep us posted!
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Happy times!!

Age : 38 Joined : 12 Jul 2007 Posts : 239

Joined : 31 May 2007 Posts : 182

Go get 'em Arttie. Will this be a raw lift or using a bench shirt? In a meet?

Subject: Re: I've made up my mind... Tue Apr 29, 2008 8:07 pm

I never use bench shirts.

Arttie
_________________
Constitutional separation of church and state is a lie; it is a figment of the secular-progressive imagination.

Subject: Re: I've made up my mind... Mon May 05, 2008 9:02 pm

Well, split over the flat, incline, and decline bench, I had 63 reps that were all over 300 pounds today, and I went as high as 405 on the flat bench today (up five from last week), so things seem to be heading in a good direction. I'm fighting an upper respiratory infection right now, which is playing havoc with my endurance, however.

Arttie
_________________
Constitutional separation of church and state is a lie; it is a figment of the secular-progressive imagination.

Age : 34 Joined : 06 Mar 2007 Posts : 2764

Awesome!

Thanks for the update.

What's your template? I'm rolling with one now and want to see it through (making gains so far) but I know things need re-tooled constantlly so I'm curious for future reference.
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Happy times!!

Subject: Re: I've made up my mind... Tue May 06, 2008 4:53 pm

Well, right now I am trying to re-establish some endurance, so I am doing a LOT of 10 rep pyramiding. When I really start going hard again (hopefull when this cycle of antibiotics is done), I will start doing this, which I have listed before.

1 x 15
1x 10
1 x 8
4 x 6
1 x 8
1 x 10

In that rep set, my current (estimated) weights would pyramid like this...

1x 165 x 15
1 x 255 x 10
4 x 375 x 6
1 x 335 x 8
1 x 315 x 10

I then go to 4 sets of 10 (pyramiding up) on inclines and then 4 sets of 300-315 on declines, all at 10 reps.

I also basically force myself to go up 5-10 pounds per week unless I didn't get at least 3 sets of the 6 rep weight. Even then I try and go up on the preceding step-up weights.

It is NOT a true powerlifting routine, but it is one that I have made HUGE strength gains on in the past.

Arttie
_________________
Constitutional separation of church and state is a lie; it is a figment of the secular-progressive imagination.

Age : 34 Joined : 06 Mar 2007 Posts : 2764

Well, that's fantastic. Powerlifting is about getting as strong as you can so if it works, it works.
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Happy times!!

Subject: Re: I've made up my mind... Tue May 06, 2008 9:04 pm

Yeah, its what I often refer to as power-bodybuilding....

Arttie
_________________
Constitutional separation of church and state is a lie; it is a figment of the secular-progressive imagination.

Subject: Re: I've made up my mind... Mon May 12, 2008 9:18 pm

Today, I jumped up 5 pounds on my last set and just squeaked out 2 reps of 410, after 49 reps of ascending weight in 5 other sets. Ever onward....

Arttie
_________________
Constitutional separation of church and state is a lie; it is a figment of the secular-progressive imagination.